It was dark underground in the caves. Yet somehow, the Grue didn't attack them like Wilson thought she might, now that she didn't have Charlie making her hesitate.

Laika guided the way easily in the dark, sometimes climbing along the cave walls to get her momentum going.

Maxwell was still unconscious, though not without sounds of pain whenever he was jostled by any of their movements.

"I swear when we arrive to wherever Laika is taking us he's getting a full once over." Wilson said.

"Ah, angry medic. Know that one." Winona chuckled, looking down at the unconscious man. "Geeze… I didn't realize it was him under that hood. I never knew he could fight like that. Charlie always described him as calm and charismatic in her letters."

Wilson stopped completely, his eyes going as wide as plates.

"EXCUSE ME!?" He yelled as it echoed down the cave wall.

"Yeah." Jenny looked behind her at him. "Our sister was always talking about him. I got to meet him a few times but Winnie lived out in the sticks."

"It was a nice cabin!"

Wilson looked at both of them, noting their eye colors were very similar to that of the Charlie he knew very well.

"This sister of yours, brown eyes, always wears her hair in a specialized bun of sorts, is rather short and wears a rose in her hair as well?"

"THAT'S THE ONE!" Both women responded, stunned.

"How do you know?"

Wilson gave a sheepish look.

"She's part of my village."

Winona and Jenny looked at each other before looking to Wilson, nearly charging the man as they stepped in front of him, giving him what could only be described as death stares.

"WHERE IS SHE AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER!?"

Wilson held up his hands in defense.

"She's back at the village I live in and I haven't done anything to her, save change her back to normal from being the Grue which was a while ago. She's perfectly healthy and taking care of a newborn."

Winona looked to Jenny who grabbed Wilson by his vest, shaking him rather violently.

"UWAH!"

"WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY THAT BEFORE!?"

"UWAH! I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE RELATED!"

"WHAT IS IT? BOY? GIRL!?"

Yep. Definitely Charlie's siblings. They scream like she does!

"Can you please let me go!? I'll tell you everything but you're making it hard to breathe!"

And strong just like her despite the shortness for this one!

Jenny set him down, taking a deep breath.

"Sorry just… I haven't seen my sister in years and only now do I hear she's okay and well."

"We thought she was gone for good." Winona sighed, glaring a bit at the man in her arms. "We thought he had done something horrible to her and we were right but I guess… things worked out because of whatever you did." She looked to Wilson. "Though back to Jenny's question. Boy or girl and more importantly, who's the father?"

Wilson dusted himself, off, clearing his throat.

"It's a baby girl named Rose and the father is William Carter, Charlie's husband."

They looked to each other silently.

"... WE MISSED THE WEDDING!?"

Wilson clamped his hands over his ears.

"Ah, ah!"

"Gosh dangit Charlie!" Winona shook her head. "She is SO giving us all the details when we see her and I call dibs on holding the baby first Jenny!"

"Oh no, I get first dibs!"

"Oh no, I'M the oldest."

"And I'm going to be making that baby most of her first clothes when I get ahold of some nice fabric and thread!"

Wilson groaned, bringing a hand to his face.

This isn't ending anytime soon, is it?

"Just let them talk."

Wilson looked behind him to see Walter, giving a grin, chuckling.

"It's just sisters being sisters."

"You got any yourself?"

"One."

"I see…" Wilson couldn't help but stare at the man.

It was still baffling to see what could pass for a twin of himself if it weren't for the minor differences from the color of his hair, eyes and height.

"Something the matter?" Walter asked, tilting his head. "You're looking at me like I have two heads."

"Are we sure you're not my doppelganger?" He asked, giving a genuinely curious look. "We look so similar."

"That's something I was wondering about as well." Walter brought a hand to his chin. "I just wasn't sure how to ask without being rude. Though I admit, you remind me of my Uncle Percival. He had eyes like yours."

"E-Excuse me?" Wilson's eyes were wide. "Percival… Higgsbury?"

"Yes! That's the one! My mother is his little sister."

Wilson was silent for a moment as it clicked in his head.

"That's right, Annalise Higgsbury. Much much younger than Percival but she had a baby when I was around 8 years old." Wilson's eyes got wider. "That was you!"

Walter rubbed the back of his neck.

"I would confirm that if I could even remember the day I was born. Regardless, Mother always mentioned my cousin's son, Wilson, since Percival talked about him so much."

"Y-Yes, that was me. Percival helped my mother raise me." Wilson adjusted his gloves. "This is quite the surprise."

"No kidding but that would explain why we look alike, especially in the hair department. It's the Higgsbury genes as my mother would call it."

"Quite." Wilson chuckled. "So that makes you my first cousin… though honestly let's just keep at it cousins since we seem to be close in age."

"Agreed. Besides, my actual cousin is way older than me so honestly he's more like my uncle." Walter chuckled, rubbing his eyes, wiping away a tear. "Oh man, when I find Willow I need you to meet her. She'll flip seeing a copy of me!"

Now Wilson got a stunned look again.

"... Does she have pigtails most of the time, carry a lighter?"

"Her hair was usually down when I knew her but yes…" Walter's eyes grew wide as well. "... No way."

"I met her a while ago and well… we've been companions for quite some time now. She's also back in the same village Charlie is."

"Hah." He laughed. "Well, I'm so glad to hear she's safe. She's like a sister to me - surrogate sister."

"This… Explains a few things."

"Like what?"

Wilson rubbed the back of his neck.

"I can't really think of all of them at the moment but it would explain why she probably trusted me so much when we met… Ugh… So many questions. Regardless, I assure you she's safe and sound. I've been doing my best to help her both physically and mentally. Last thing I'd ever want is for her to get her." Wilson smiled a bit. "She means too much to me for me to allow that to happen."

Walter smiled, giving a grateful look.

"That's a relief to hear. I can't wait to see her again."

"Don't know what she'll do with two Higgsbury "dorks" as she prefers."

"We'll find out."

"Hey guys!" Laika called out. "We're at the end of the tunnel!"

"Thank goodness, I was getting claustrophobic." Winona sighed in relief, picking up her pace. "Race ya Jenny!"

Jenny laughed, following after her sister.

"You got a dead weight I'm so gonna beat ya!"

Wilson chuckled, looking to Walter.

"Just so I'm not stunned again is there anything else I should know about anyone else? Because I've found out two people are related to woman back in my camp and that I have a cousin who just happened to know the woman I love-" Wilson brought a hand over his mouth. "I mean care about."

Walter hummed in thought.

"Well, I was the kitchen boy for the asylum Willow was trapped in. She didn't make the deal with the devil over there. I did."

"I see…"

Walter nodded before smirking.

"And don't think I heard that last bit. So… you two are courting?"

Wilson turned bright red before slowly nodding.

"Actually… We're married."

Walter's eyes widened in shock.

"EH!?"

"Y-Yes!" Wilson braced himself for another reaction like Jenny and Winona's… only to have Walter burst out laughing.

"Of course! Of course, that spitfire would get married and I miss it!"

Wilson chuckled, grinning sheepishly.

"Well, she is quite the woman."

Walter grinned.

"I agree and thank you caring for her when I couldn't and… I'm glad she has someone special in her life but know this." Walter gave a mock glare. "Make her cry, you better watch your back for flying frying pans."

Wilson swallowed hard.

"Y-Yessir!"

"Good." Walter laughed. "Now, come on, let's get out of this tunnel!"

They hurried out, soon finding themselves on a plateau that was surrounded by massive caverns and had light pouring in from the surface through cracks in the ceiling. Wilson took note of what was on the plateau. There was small base set up with a cabin made of stone and wood. Around the cabin were gardens, a dedicated research area with a science machine and alchemy engine. A nice humble little base.

The others were waiting at the gate entry of the base as Walter and Wilson approached.

"You two are so slow." Jenny giggled.

"What, we were just enjoying the scenery." Walter grinned.

Laika giggled.

"You hoomons are silly. I'll go see if my friends are home."

Laika climbed over the gate, making her way over to the cabin before knocking on the door.

"Robert? Andrea? Are you home?"

The door opened as a man with dark hair and glasses appeared. He smiled as he took her image in.

"Laika, so good to see you. It's been awhile!"

Before Laika could response, a little blur rushed past the man as Laika caught a very excited toddler.

"AUNTIE LAI LAI!"

"CIEL!" She laughed, holding the child close to her. "Oh, I've missed you!"

"Missed you too!"

Laika sighed happily, before looking up at Robert.

"Ehehe? Sorry to drop in like this, but have an emergency."

Robert followed her gaze to the group, his own eyes widening.

"Survivors… More of us."

"Yeah, I met them where I was. One of them you might recognize. Hey, Nona!"

Winona stepped forward as Robert let out a sharp gasp.

"Get him inside now!"

They hurried inside, Winona laying Maxwell out on the bed where Robert's supplies was. The man hurried about, grabbing what he could.

"What on Earth happened?!"

Wilson hurried forward, getting right to work with examining Maxwell's injuries.

"It's a long… very long story. For now, let's just focus on work."

"Very well." Robert nodded, assisting Wilson in his task.

Laika came forward, Ciel on her back.

"Alright, anything else I can do to help?"

"We need some hot water. Can you get that going?" Wilson asked as she hurried to do as asked. Wilson rolled his sleeves up more, getting right to work.

Alright, just time to be a doctor.

Wilson got right to work, examining Maxwell's injuries. He had bruises on his chest, indicating minor internal bleeding and his arms had cuts on them, likely leftover injuries from his battle in The Forge.

Good thing he's unconscious. This will not be a pleasant treatment.

"Here." Robert offered him the tools he needed. "Do what you need to do."

"Thank you." Wilson got out what he needed, starting the treatment. "Do you happen to have any healing salve or honey poultice?"

"I do. I'll go get those right away." Robert nodded, hurrying off.

Wilson fell quiet as he worked, trying to process everything. Here he was, helping a person whom a year ago he would've had no problem with leaving somewhere to die.

But he helped me… And he saved my life. I owe it to him… and I was never ruthless anyways. It's not my nature.

Robert came back, joining him as they finished patching Maxwell up.

"Thank you."

"Anytime. Quite the surprise, honestly."

"And I apologize for barging in."

Robert smiled.

"Nonsense. Friends of Laika are friends of mine. Besides… I know a Higgsbury when I see one."

… I'm just getting all kinds of questions answered today.